I’ve unboxed a lot of products for the past four years since I started this blog. Without sounding too cocky, I do believe that you take my writing merely as a reference only, since there are many other sites who review similar products and offer detailed information about them. This time, it’s the Mazzer Mini Electronic Type A, which is one of the well-known grinder manufacturers used by professionals and home baristas. But the one I’m unboxing is a re-brand from Rocket, even though specification-wise, there aren’t any difference whatsoever, except for its name.

Mazzer doesn’t have any official distributor, so anyone can import this grinder, including its most high-end product, the Robur Electronic, which costs around three thousand US dollars. Except for Mazzer for Rocket, which is distributed by PT. Tritama Kawanmas, who also imports machines under the same name (formerly known as ECM). For this post’s purpose, I will call it with its most common name, which is the Mazzer Mini (MM).

Essentially, the Mazzer Minis are available in two kinds; doser (with ground coffee container) and doserless (without ground coffee container). The doserless are further divided into two types – type A (using electronic panel) and type B (panel-less). On the type B grinders, the timer is adjusted manually using a screw that can be rotated to add or reduce the dosing time, as well as an automatic switch that activates the grinder when the portafilter is pressed under the doser.

Unboxing Mazzer really brings me back to the first time I became seriously interested with coffee, and read many reviews who were talking about this particular product. It was meant to be paired with Rancilio Silvia, as what many home baristas would. Silvia and Mazzer Mini are indeed the ideal couple, although the grinder costs more than the espresso machine – something that I actually recommend. I’m sure you still remember the principle I always hold; prioritize on buying a good quality grinder before buying any kinds of coffee machines, and always provide a sufficient budget for it.

Rocket coated MM with a shiny chrome finishing and excellent craftsmanship quality, which is evident from every curve and corner of this grinder. Starting from the top, the bean hopper – or the bean container – is made of clear plastic material with an ideal 0.6 kg capacity. The bean catcher completes the container’s feature to ease changing the beans. Its 45 cm height will fit most home cabinets so you can put this grinder just below it.

In the middle, there’s the burr collar that sets the coffee grind mode (coarse or refined) and it comes with a 7 cm long handle. A sticker showing an arrow pointing to the left indicates fine grinding and the one pointing to the right indicates coarse grinding. Try to move this part and you’ll find that it’s not easy to do it as it takes a bit of a power so the burr position changes. From all the grinders I’ve tried before, Mazzer is the grinder that requires the most power to change its burr. The limiter screw can also be used to tighten the burr collar so it doesn’t change.

Image 4: Electronic panel The panel on the cone’s surface shows the dosing options for one or two cups. Manual button is indicated with the finger pointing icon. To access the menu simply press the first button on the left. Next to it is the electronic display, and the time adjustment buttons to increase (+) or decrease (-). Maximum dosing time to set is 30 seconds for either one or two cups.

Let’s move on to the electronic panel, which is MM’s main kitchen. On the panel, we can adjust the timer for 1 or 2 cups of dosing. The Menu button must be pressed, and when the electronic displays ( _ _ _ _ ), press the button that shows a single cup, then adjust the time as desired. The display shows four digit numbers with two decimals, for example: 15.35. Adjusting it is possible only by decreasing or increasing for as long as 0.5 seconds only, and this is done by pressing the (+) or the ( – ) button. Unfortunately, the maximum time it allows is limited to 30.00 seconds and afterwards it will go back to 0. I tried grinding 10 grams of coffee and the MM took around 20 seconds, which was relatively slow, wasn’t it?

Using Mazzer

Perhaps some of you have similar experience as mine, when I first struggled to find the ideal grinding results for my coffee. At that time, I rotated the burr starting from the coarsest setting, and it took me 30 minutes until I could finally get the result I wanted. That method turned out to be very ineffective, so I did it the other way around and started it from the most refined setting. The burr must be changed bit by bit, starting from the most refined setting, so you can save some time that way, since the burr positions for espresso settings are really not that far apart from each other.

So I rotate the burr to the left, have the beans ready, and I press the button on the panel manually. If I rotate it all the way to the left, what usually happens is the coffee wont come out since the burr position is too tight. So just rotate it bit by bit and just keep on doing that until the coffee can be ground. By the way, it’s the 3 springs under the burr that press up, and this causes the Mazzer burr difficult to rotate.

If you look at the photos showing the grinding result of this grinder, it’s evident how good MM is with minimizing clumping – also known as coffee granules that are formed while it’s coming out from the cone-shaped chute. Although it takes around 20 seconds to grind 10 grams of coffee, the ground coffee that pour into the portafilter and forms a small mountain looks pretty good, even when compared to a dosing result of a doser grinder that piles the coffee like a botched mountain due to the handle attached to it. When I compare the weight of the coffee before and after it’s ground, I am very satisfied – using a digital scale, there is no difference whatsoever – it’s basically 10 grams in and 10 grams out. Of course it’s a different case if you’re using a two-digit digital scale, but for me it’s a very insignificant fact that I’m willing to overlook.

The micro adjustment on a stepless grinder is suitable for those who are after precision in coffee grinding. The burr change per millimeter is Mazzer’s strongest point, and their stepless grinder is available with a reputation that exceeds itself. The fork or the portafilter is another feature that you can rely on. Also built with a sturdy material and construction, I have no doubt knocking it about, even though it can get as heavy as half a kg.

The Bean Hopper. : With a capacity of 0.6 kg, it’s quite sufficient even for a medium-sized coffee shop. Take advantage of the bean stopper to facilitate changing the coffee beans.

So what are the cons? It being slow? I don’t mind, really – the grinding takes a relatively longer time but that’s okay, since it’s appropriate as a home appliance that typically has less frequent use. I don’t have patrons breathing down my back and frowning upon me as I prepare their coffee, although more often than not, my daughter – more often than not – demands for a fast-food style service from me.

If I may recommend one thing though, is not to have the grinder on when it’s not in use. I’ve tried having it on for 30 minutes and leaving it idle and the electronic panel starts to get warm, which prompts me to turn it off immediately in order to avoid any unnecessary damage. You have to understand – this grinder is on a loan basis, so I have to return it in the same condition I received it. Perhaps it’s one of the most important notes that I found while I tried using this grinder.

I believe in recommending the Mazzer Mini to you. It can be a faithful companion for a long term use, because it holds to its reputation, in always giving the best service and precise result

Stepless : It gives more freedom for the operator to adjust the ground setting as needed. Mazzer is famous for the quality of its materials, so no sweat in sliding the burr. I recommend modifying the small lever to a longer and sturdier one so you can add more momentum to the spin.

Doserless. : The cone-shaped stainless steel doser delivers the ground coffee directly to the portafilter underneath. A doserless grinder is always equipped with a finger guard within the doser itself. I always opt for a doserless grinder to be used at home, and Mazzer is one of those grinders I recommend for home appliances.

Changing the Flat Burr : I haven’t actually done this at all. Does anyone know how much grinding will it take to wear it off?

Porta Handle. : The fork or the porta handle is very sturdy and the 58 mm diameter handle fits right in my hand.

If it’s continually turned on, the electronic display will feel slightly hot, so I suggest turning it off when not in use.

I don’t mind its speed limitation – which is 10 seconds for 10 grams of coffee – because Mazzer always gives the best result with the same consistency.

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Toni Wahid

Brewing coffee is truly a combination of art and science. It takes knowledge, skills, and most importantly, passion for a perfection. The contents of this coffeelicious blog is created by me, who effortlessly cool and adorable by nature. Trusting me at your own risks.

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